V.M.R. Sharma
When I was working, unofficially as
sub Editor of Telugu Sanathana Sarathi, I came across a lady who had
an experience - a miracle - to narrate. However, as per the then
practice, such miracles were not to be mentioned in the Sanathana
Sarathi. However, a friend of mine, Sri Krishna Mohan Raju, who heard
of this miracle, investigated the same personally and wrote an article,
published in his monthly magazine - Sri Vani, in Telugu. Here is the
narrative, in brief: -
Janapati Lakshmi, a resident of
Piduguralla village of Guntur district of Andhra Pradesh was married
at an early age of 12, but due to some high fever, her left hand
became paralyzed, weak and twisted. Due to this handicap, her husband
did not take her at all. God, however, had bestowed her with a
melodious voice and she used to sing Annamayya Kirtans and Bhajans to
eke out her livelihood, supporting her mother as well. Even to tie her
own sari was a difficult task for her. Because of this handicap she
was nick named as "Kunti Lakshmi" or "Lame Lakshmi" in the nearby
villages.
As per some well-meaning people, they
advised her to get the defect set right in Vellore and she set about
collecting funds for her journey and surgery. When this was
accomplished, she set about for the journey, escorted by her music
teacher. When they reached Vijayawada, by bus, all of a sudden, after
seeing the bus for Puttaparthi, she changed her plans and requested
her guide and teacher to travel to Puttaparthi first and then proceed
to Vellore after having Swami's Darshan. Accordingly when they reached
Puttaparthi, at the bus stand itself, they learnt that Swarni was at
Brindavan. As per advice of some local residents, they went to
Brindavan to have Swami's Darshan. By a stroke of luck (or is it
Swami's Grace!) she was seated in the second row, behind a lady who
was awaiting Swami's blessings on her birthday. When Swami came near
the lady, Lakshmi touched the Lotus Feet with her right hand and then
wanted her left hand also to touch the Lotus Feet. With great
trepidation she extended her left hand and touched His Feet and lo and
behold! Her left hand became perfectly all right and straight.
Joyously she cried out in Telugu "Naa Cheyi Baaga ayyindi" meaning, my
hand has become alright. Swami smiled and graciously went off but
other ladies nearby asked her to keep quiet, as she was shedding tears
of joy and repeating the sentence - my hand has become alright. This
was on 12th April 1990- after paralysis of seventeen years.
Thereafter, abandoning her plan to
visit Vellore, she returned to Puttaparthi. narrated her experience to
a few here and returned to her village. All people of the Piduguralla
village who came to know of the miracle were exhilarated and happy to
note that "Kunti Lakshmi" or "Lame Lakshmi" had her hand perfectly
restored. In one voice, they proclaimed that only God could do such
miracles and Sai Baba was God. This episode is a thing of joy to theists
and a puzzle to atheists and rationalists but to the people of that
village Sai Baba is God.
Sourced: SAI SPANDAN - Journal of
SSSIHMS Prasanthi Gram - Third Issue
http://sathyababa.tripod.com/miracle/lame.htm